What if you started the holidays restored, not rushed?

This morning’s text thread to my family was about Thanksgiving plans:

Who is hosting? 

Of course, I’ll bake an apple pie…and a pumpkin pie. 

What sides are we serving? 

Where will everyone sleep?

Sound familiar?

The best part about nailing down plans…learning what days you don’t have plans. Days you get to do exactly what you want. 

Decades ago, I began opting out of Black Friday shopping. While others woke in the wee hours of the morning, my cousin and I slept in, enjoyed leftover pie with our coffee, and savored the pause…because it felt restorative. 

A 2023 study by the American Psychological Association found that 89% of adults get stressed out during the holiday season. I believe it, and hear about it from my clients.

It usually happens when you go along with the flow of the holiday without knowing or making space for your own needs. Do you need a solo walk on Thanksgiving to escape the chaos, to decline the neighborhood gathering, or permission to order the meal from a local restaurant because you don’t enjoy cooking?

Knowing what you need puts boundaries in place for your own energy preservation. 

It also helps to fill your energetic cup before the holidays, like registering for the Out Of Office Friday Retreat on November 21st. 

The space we chose for this Traverse City-based retreat overlooks Lake Michigan and perfectly sets the stage to slow down. Over the decades, I’ve spent countless hours gazing over the water to spark a conversation with myself, with God or with Mother Nature. And somehow, it provides answers seemingly out of the blue. I’m thrilled to share this moving tapestry of waves, wind, birds and light with you!  

Whether you live in Northern Michigan or not, you’re welcome here. There’s even a beautiful hotel just two blocks away — the perfect excuse to make it a full weekend experience.

Here’s the short version:

📅 Friday, November 21, 2025

🌊 Overlooking Lake Michigan

🧘‍♀️ Morning yoga to ground and energize you

💬 Personal + professional development workshops

👗 Build your personal brand with a professional stylist

🤝 Space for connection and new friendships

🎟️ Limited to 20 attendees

👉 Register Here

Here’s a little tip: many attendees are using their professional development budget to attend. (Because personal growth is professional growth.)

I’d love to see you there!

Halle

PS:

1. For daily support and tidbits follow me over on Insta! 

2.  Time for a new journal? Pick up a new copy of my Know Thyself Journal for daily support towards your most important intentions for the next 90 days.

3.  Are you into individual assessments? Here is a link to take a free Core Values Assessment (CVI). It only takes 10 minutes and measures your innate, unchanging nature. Take it yourself and feel free to forward to a friend, too.